Story posted Friday, November 6, 2009
More Lights, Cameras At Friendship Park?
By RICHARD MAYER Assistant Managing Editor
An estimated $30,000 in damages have taken place at Friendship Park in Des Plaines in recent months, according to Mt. Prospect Park District officials.
Areas of the park have been vandalized several times during recent months. What started in July as graffiti on doors has escalated to arson and destruction.
"Vandalism like this is so pointless and such a waste of taxpayers money," said Park District CEO Walt Cook. The park's playground equipment and park benches have been seared or burned through. The Space Net Climber, a rope climbing mechanism, was completely destroyed and will cost approximately $12,500 to replace.
Cook also said two steel doors leading into the concession stand were also damaged. A week after the doors were replaced, they were damaged again.
"We are going to start looking at installing lights and cameras over there," said Cook. "If I can catch someone doing it, that would be fantastic. This is too much damage in a short period of time."
Cook said vandalism incidents occur regularly throughout the park district and park staff is aware of certain times in the year when damage may be more prevalent such as Halloween, high school prom season, the week before the first day of school and the week after the last day of school.
Parts to replace the damaged items are on order and should be replaced by the end of this month, Cook said. He added all of the graffiti has been removed.
Residents living near Friendship Park are being asked to report any suspicious crimes in the park to the Des Plaines Police Dept.
"We're hoping that residents around the park will help us by reporting any suspicious activity," said Cook. "We're not asking them to stop anything. We're just asking them to pick up the phone and call 9-1-1."
Des Plaines police are offering a $1,000 reward through CrimeStoppers.
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